Assembled magnetic track strucutre for toy vehicle

ABSTRACT

An assembled magnetic track structure for a toy vehicle includes a base plate disposed on a ground, and a magnetic track magnetically attracted to the base plate. The magnetic track is made by assembling a plurality of magnetic track sections. Wheels of the toy vehicle run on the magnetic track. By this structure, it is easy for manufacturing, saves the expense of molds, and reduces the production cost and selling cost. Further, it can be assembled easily and freely to increase the interest and variability thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a toy, in particular to an assembledmagnetic track structure for a toy vehicle.

2. Description of Prior Art

There are many kinds of track structures for toy vehicles, each of whichincludes a base plate and a track fixed onto the base plate. The baseplate is depicted with background patterns to increase its interest. Thetoy vehicle runs on the track. Such a track structure for a toy vehicleincludes a plurality of plastic track sections which are assembledtogether to form a track on which the toy vehicle runs.

However, in practice, the above track structure for a toy vehicle hasthe following problems. First, since the base plate and the track aremade of plastic materials, the manufacturer has to design differentmolds to make the base plate and track for different kinds of toyvehicles. As a result, the expense of molds and the production cost areincreased. Further, the inventory of different kinds of base plates andtracks has to be increased.

Second, the track sections of the conventional track structure areassembled together by means of engagement to form a track. Thethus-formed track is fixed on the base plate without sliding.Accordingly, the base plate has to be provided with a plurality offixing points for allowing the track to be fixed thereto, which increasethe difficulty in manufacturing the base plate. Further, the track canbe only fixed on the base plate at the fixing points, which restrictsthe interest and variability thereof.

Third, since the base plate and the track are made of plastic materialswith fixed colors and patterns, the user cannot change the colors orpatterns of the base plate and the track if necessary. Further, theconventional base plate cannot allow decorative elements to beadditionally mounted thereon according to the user's demands.

Therefore, it is an important issued for the present Inventor to solvethe above-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is to provide an assembled magnetic trackstructure for a toy vehicle, which allows easy manufacture, saves theexpense of molds, and reduces the production cost and selling cost.

The present invention is to provide an assembled magnetic trackstructure for a toy vehicle, which can be assembled together easily andfreely, thereby increasing the interest and variability thereof.

The present invention is to provide an assembled magnetic trackstructure for a toy vehicle, including: a base plate disposed on aground; and a magnetic track magnetically attracted to the base plate, awheel of the toy vehicle running on the magnetic track.

According to one feature of the present invention, the base plate has aninner iron sheet. The magnetic track is made of magnetic elements andcan be integrally formed or assembled by a plurality of magnetic tracksections.

In comparison with prior art, the present invention has the advantageousfeatures as follows.

The base plate is made of an iron sheet, so that the user canadditionally dispose decorative elements on the base plate by magnets tothereby change the background and decoration of the base plate. Further,the magnetic track sections are made of magnetic elements such as rigidor soft magnets, so that the magnetic track sections can be magneticallyattracted onto the base plate to form different paths freely. Further,the magnetic track sections made of magnetic elements can be coloredfreely, thereby increasing the interest and variability of the presentinvention. In this way, the user can bring his/her imagination andcreativity into full play.

On the other hand, since the track sections and the base plate are notmade of plastic materials, the manufacturer needs not to designdifferent molds for various kinds of track sections and base plates.Thus, the expense of molds and the production cost are saved. Further,the inventory and the selling cost are reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view showing the first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a second embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view showing the second embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an arrangement of the track structureof the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing another arrangement of the trackstructure of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a third embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a fourth embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 9 is an assembled perspective view showing the fourth embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description and technical contents of the present inventionwill become apparent with the following detailed description accompaniedwith related drawings. It is noteworthy to point out that the drawingsis provided for the illustration purpose only, but not intended forlimiting the scope of the present invention.

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. The present invention relates to anassembled magnetic track structure 1 for a toy vehicle, which includes abase plate 10 and a magnetic track 20.

The base plate 10 is disposed on the ground (not shown). The base plate10 is made of an inner iron sheet 11 and an outer pattern layer 12adhered to the inner iron sheet 11. The outer pattern layer 12 is madeof plastic films or cloth adhered to the inner iron sheet 11. Atrademark or desired patterns can be printed or stitched on the outerpattern layer 12 of the base plate 10.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the magnetic track 20 is integrally formedby magnetic elements such as rigid or soft magnets. The magnetic track20 can be magnetically attracted to the inner iron sheet 11 of the baseplate 10. The width of the magnetic track 20 is configured to allow twoside wheels 31 of a toy vehicle 30 to straddle thereon, so that the toyvehicle 30 can be guided by the magnetic track 20 to run thereon. Thethickness and width of the magnetic track 20 can be changed based onpractical demands.

The toy vehicle 30 may be a four-wheeled or multi-wheeled vehiclepowered by a spring, an electric motor or solar energy. The wheels 31 onboth sides of the toy vehicle 30 run on the magnetic track 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, since the base plate 10 has the inner iron sheet 11,the user can dispose other decorative elements 100 (such as artificialtrees or dolls) on the base plate 10 by means of magnets 110, therebyimproving the external appearance, interest and variability of thepresent invention.

Please refer to FIGS. 3 to 6, which show the second embodiment of thepresent invention. The difference between the second embodiment and thefirst embodiment lies in that: the magnetic track 20 is made byassembling a plurality of magnetic track sections 21 together. Each ofthe magnetic track sections 21 is magnetically attracted to the baseplate 10 to form the track 20. For example, FIG. 4 shows a track of aclosed elliptic path. FIG. 5 shows a track of a S-shaped path. FIG. 6shows a track of an inverted U-shaped path. Of course, the arrangementof the magnetic track sections 21 is not limited to the above, and itmay be changed based on practical demands, thereby increasing theinterest and variability of the present invention.

Like the first embodiment, each of the magnetic track sections 21 ismade of a magnetic element, which can be magnetically attracted onto theinner iron sheet 11 of the base plate 10.

The width of the magnetic track section 21 is configured to allow thewheels 31 of the toy vehicle 30 to straddle thereon. The toy vehicle 30is guided by the track 20 constituted of the magnetic track sections 21.The thickness and the width of each magnetic track section 21 can bechanged based on practical demands.

Please refer to FIG. 7, which shows the third embodiment of the presentinvention. The difference between the third embodiment and the firstembodiment lies in that: a wheel 31′ is provided in the center portionof the bottom surface of the toy vehicle 30. An upper surface of themagnetic track 20 is provided with a guiding groove 22 for guiding thewheel 31′ to run therein. More specifically, the width of the guidinggroove 22 is larger that of the wheel 31′ shown in FIG. 7, so that thewheel 31′ can be put in the guiding groove 22 and guided thereby. Inthis way, the toy vehicle 30 can run in the guiding groove 22. Ofcourse, the magnetic track 20 can be provided with a guiding groove 22no matter it is an integral track shown in FIG. 1 or an assembled trackshown in FIG. 3.

Since the magnetic track sections 21 can be assembled together freely,the user may connect a plurality of base plates 10 together to form aplate of a larger area. As shown in FIG. 3, four base plates 10 areconnected together. To this end, magnetic fixing stripes 40 aremagnetically attracted to the bottom surfaces of the base plates 10 forfixing the base plates 10 to each other.

It should be noted that, although the magnetic track section 21 shown inFIGS. 3 to 7 is completely made of a magnetic element, it can be easilythough by those skilled in this art that, the magnetic track section 21may be made of a non-magnetic body (such as paper) and two magnetsadhered to both ends of the non-magnetic body. By this structure, thenon-magnetic body having two magnets on its both ends can still achievethe same effect as that of the above-mentioned magnetic track section21. With the two magnets having different magnetic polarities, aplurality of non-magnetic bodies can be connected in series.

Please refer to FIGS. 8 and 9, which show the fourth embodiment of thepresent invention. The difference between the fourth embodiment and thethird embodiment lies in that: the magnetic track 20′ is made byassembling a plurality of magnetic pieces 21′ and 22′ (or 23′ and 24′).The gaps between any two magnetic pieces 21′ and 22′ are connected toform the magnetic track 20′. Thus, the wheel 31′ of the toy vehicle 30shown in FIG. 7 can also run in the magnetic track 20′ formed by themagnetic pieces 21′ and 22′ or formed by the magnetic pieces 23′ and24′.

In comparison with prior art, the present invention has the advantageousfeatures as follows.

The base plate 10 is made of an iron sheet, so that the user canadditionally dispose decorative elements 100 on the base plate 10 bymagnets 110 to thereby change the background and decoration of the baseplate 10. Further, the magnetic track sections 21 are made of magneticelements such as rigid or soft magnets, so that the magnetic tracksections 21 can be magnetically attracted onto the base plate 10 to formthe tracks 20 of different paths freely. Further, the magnetic tracksections 21 made of magnetic elements can be colored freely, therebyincreasing the interest and variability of the present invention. Inthis way, the user can bring his/her imagination and creativity intofull play.

On the other hand, since the magnetic track sections 21 and the baseplate 10 are not made of plastic materials, the manufacturer needs notto design different molds for various kinds of track sections 21 andbase plates 10. Thus, the expense of molds and the production cost aresaved. Further, the inventory and the selling cost are reduced.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to theforegoing preferred embodiments, it will be understood that theinvention is not limited to the details thereof. Various equivalentvariations and modifications can still occur to those skilled in thisart in view of the teachings of the present invention. Thus, all suchvariations and equivalent modifications are also embraced within thescope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. An assembled magnetic track structure for a toy vehicle, including: abase plate disposed on a ground; and a magnetic track magneticallyattracted to the base plate, a wheel of the toy vehicle running on themagnetic track.
 2. The assembled magnetic track structure for a toyvehicle according to claim 1, wherein the base plate has an inner ironsheet, the magnetic track is made of an integral magnetic element andmagnetically attracted to the inner iron sheet.
 3. The assembledmagnetic track structure for a toy vehicle according to claim 1, whereinthe base plate has an inner iron sheet, the magnetic track is made byassembling a plurality of magnetic track sections, each of the magnetictrack sections is made of a magnetic element and magnetically attractedto the inner iron sheet.
 4. The assembled magnetic track structure for atoy vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the magnetic element is oneselected from a group including rigid magnets and soft magnets.
 5. Theassembled magnetic track structure for a toy vehicle according to claim1, wherein the base plate has an inner iron sheet, the magnetic track ismade by assembling a plurality of magnetic track sections, each of themagnetic track sections comprises a non-magnetic body and magnetsadhered to the non-magnetic body, the magnetic track sections aremagnetically attracted to the inner iron sheet.
 6. The assembledmagnetic track structure for a toy vehicle according to claim 1, whereinthe base plate has an inner iron sheet, the magnetic track is made byassembling a plurality of magnetic pieces, gaps between any two magneticpieces are connected to form the magnetic track, each of the magneticpieces is made of a magnetic element and magnetically attracted to theinner iron sheet.
 7. The assembled magnetic track structure for a toyvehicle according to claim 6, wherein the base plate further has anouter pattern layer adhered to the outside of the inner iron sheet. 8.The assembled magnetic track structure for a toy vehicle according toclaim 2, wherein the magnetic track is configured to have a widthallowing wheels of the toy vehicle to straddle thereon, the magnetictrack is configured to guide the toy vehicle to run on the magnetictrack.
 9. The assembled magnetic track structure for a toy vehicleaccording to claim 3, wherein the magnetic track is configured to have awidth allowing wheels of the toy vehicle to straddle thereon, themagnetic track is configured to guide the toy vehicle to run on themagnetic track.
 10. The assembled magnetic track structure for a toyvehicle according to claim 2, further including at least one decorativeelement magnetically attracted to the base plate by magnets.
 11. Theassembled magnetic track structure for a toy vehicle according to claim3, further including at least one decorative element magneticallyattracted to the base plate by magnets.
 12. The assembled magnetic trackstructure for a toy vehicle according to claim 2, further including atleast one magnetic fixing strip for connecting a plurality of baseplates, the magnetic fixing strip being made of a magnetic element andmagnetically attracted to a bottom surface of the base plate near theground.
 13. The assembled magnetic track structure for a toy vehicleaccording to claim 3, further including at least one magnetic fixingstrip for connecting a plurality of base plates, the magnetic fixingstrip being made of a magnetic element and magnetically attracted to abottom surface of the base plate near the ground.
 14. The assembledmagnetic track structure for a toy vehicle according to claim 3, whereinthe magnetic track sections are assembled to form a track of a closedelliptic path.
 15. The assembled magnetic track structure for a toyvehicle according to claim 3, wherein the magnetic track sections areassembled to form a track of an S-shape path.
 16. The assembled magnetictrack structure for a toy vehicle according to claim 3, wherein themagnetic track sections are assembled to form a track of an invertedU-shape path.
 17. The assembled magnetic track structure for a toyvehicle according to claim 2, wherein the bottom surface of the toyvehicle is provided with a wheel, an upper surface of the magnetic trackis provided with a guiding groove for guiding the wheel to run thereon.18. The assembled magnetic track structure for a toy vehicle accordingto claim 3, wherein the bottom surface of the toy vehicle is providedwith a wheel, an upper surface of the magnetic track is provided with aguiding groove for guiding the wheel to run thereon.
 19. The assembledmagnetic track structure for a toy vehicle according to claim 17,wherein the width of the guiding groove is larger than that of thewheel, so that the wheel can be disposed in the guiding groove andguided thereby.
 20. The assembled magnetic track structure for a toyvehicle according to claim 18, wherein the width of the guiding grooveis larger than that of the wheel, so that the wheel can be disposed inthe guiding groove and guided thereby.